Source : BRICS NEWS
BRUSSELS, November 3, 2026 – The European Commission has called on people across the European Union to be ready to look after themselves for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency, setting out new guidelines that encourage households to keep supplies and grab bags at hand.
BRICS News highlighted the announcement in a post on X, saying: “European Union urges citizens to prepare emergency survival kits with enough supplies to last 72 hours.”
The Population Preparedness Guidelines were presented on Tuesday by Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, at the European Civil Protection Forum. The guidelines are not binding, leaving national governments to decide how to apply them, but they are meant to give EU countries a common reference point as they prepare their populations for crises.
“When disaster strikes, the first hours can make all the difference. Every European should know what to do, how to protect their family, and how to help others. Preparedness starts in our homes, in our schools, in our communities,” Ms Lahbib said.
The guidelines cover four areas. The first is self-sufficiency for at least 72 hours, including keeping essential supplies at home and preparing a grab bag that can be taken quickly in an evacuation. The second is preparedness education, so that people learn what to do in an emergency from an early age. The third is disability-inclusive preparedness, ensuring that plans take account of people with disabilities. The fourth is risk communication, so that authorities can reach the public clearly and quickly when a crisis hits.
The Commission also announced an annual EU Preparedness Day, to be held on October 23 from 2027. The date marks the anniversary of the creation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on October 23, 2001. Each country remains responsible for its own civil protection arrangements, with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism coordinating support when national capacities are overwhelmed. Alongside the guidelines, the Commission adopted a Recommendation on operational continuity and stress-testing, aimed at helping authorities and essential services keep functioning during disruptions.
The guidelines draw on the work of a Citizens’ Panel of 150 people from across the bloc, which met between March and May 2026, the Commission said. The initiative was also Anadolu Agency, which said the guidance urges citizens to prepare for the first 72 hours of emergencies.
The measures form part of the Preparedness Union Strategy launched in March 2025, which built on a report by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö on strengthening Europe’s civil and military readiness.
The Commission presented the package as part of new steps to prepare Europeans for growing crisis risks. According to Anadolu, the guidelines encourage member states to integrate emergency preparedness into early childhood and primary school curricula, so that children learn from an early age how to respond when a crisis strikes. The aim, the Commission said, is to equip individuals and communities with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves and others during emergencies, and to strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate, prevent and respond to crises and emerging threats.
Source: BRICS News on X
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